Soun finished reading the letter and, for a little moment, he remained thinking in silence.
The letter had reminded him of an old promise, a pact to unite his house with the Saotome’s. That had been during many years his greater illusion. Before he would have cried of happiness knowing that the Saotome came to their house, but no longer. The circumstances had changed.
Soun sighed and rose to tell the news to his daughters.
‘No. I can’t tell it to Akane.’ Soun pondered. ‘It will be better that I only tell the truth to Kasumi and Nabiki.’
After Soun made his decision he went to pick his daughters up. First he went to Nabiki’s room, but he stopped just in front of the door. His glance turned towards Akane’s room and he sighed, saddened. Afterwards he knocked softly Nabiki’s door, before opening it carefully so as not to make noise.
Nabiki was lying on the bed listening to music with earpieces, because of them she didn’t hear his father call. This one approached and touched her softly in her shoulder. Nabiki turned around and took off her earpieces on seeing her father.
“Nabiki, I would like to speak with you and Kasumi in the living-room. It is important.”
“Ok, dad. I will tell her right now.”
Soun smiled with gratitude, but just when he turned to leave Nabiki asked him.
“Must I tell it to Akane too?”
Soun answered with a shake of his head.
“No. This night she hasn’t been able to rest much; now that finally she has been able to fall asleep, we must let her rest.”
“Ok.”
Soun returned to the living room to await his daughters. He sat next to the table and stayed there observing the sky by the opened door of the garden.
Although the day had dawned sunny, little by little it had been covered with clouds and at this moment a light rain fell.
‘It seems so appropriate.’ Soun thought ‘I want to cry too.’
The noise of steps returned him to the reality. When he turned around he saw his two older daughters came in and sat down at the other side of the table facing him. During a second Soun observed them in silence.
Nabiki wore a t-shirt and jeans cut over the knee. Unlike her sister, Kasumi wore an elegant white dress.
‘It looks that she has a date with Tofu tonight.’ Soun thought proudly. ‘He is a good young man. Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t allow him date my daughter, and after that happened to Akane, who could reproach me? ’
Nabiki’s rasp cut Soun’s train of thought.
‘How she's changed! Before she didn’t show openly her feelings, however now... And how much did I change? ’
He left his thoughts and spoke to his daughters.
“An old friend is going to visit us with his son.”
This surprised Kasumi and Nabiki, but Soun continued before that they could make any comment.
“They will probably arrive this afternoon. The boy’s about your ages.”
“Father! I don’t think it is prudent…” Kasumi started, but seeing that Soun raised his hand, she shut up and let him continue.
“The reason of their visit is fulfil an old promise to join the schools; Therefore one of you is due to marry his son."
Soun hadn’t finished pronouncing those words when Nabiki and Kasumi began to protest simultaneously.
“How did it come to you?” “I didn’t think that it is a good idea.” “After everything that happened!” “Akane hasn’t recovered completely yet.” “It is a complete stupidity.”
Soun sighed resigned.
‘I knew that this was going to happen, but what could I do? If I hadn’t warned them, it would be worse.’
He raised his hand again, requesting silence; and waited for his daughters to finish expressing their indignation.
The silence returned to the room after a few minutes, but the atmosphere had changed. The annoyance and the disapproval of his daughters were easily visible for Soun. And although it hurt him see the rejection of his daughters, he knew that they had all the right to be upset.
‘I only wish that they will forgive me.’
He fixed his eyes on the table, unable to continue watching them to the eyes.
“I made that promise many years ago, when Kasumi was born. How could I know what was going to happen? If I had known…”
Soun, on the verge of tears, couldn’t continue. He took out a handkerchief and dried his eyes.
“I only ask you that you help me.” Soun told while he was doubling his handkerchief meticulously. “I don’t wish for Akane to find out. When my friend arrives I will talk with him. I know that he will understand the situation without problems. Will you help me?” Soun said almost begging.
His daughters’ attitude smoothed a little. Nabiki sighed.
“Ok father.” She said while she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I hope that there aren’t more surprises of this type.”
“I promise you that there aren’t any more.” Soun said solemnly.
Then the bell of the house rang. Soun rose and said:
“Probably these are them. Go to receive them.”
And, without confirming that his daughters followed him, he left the living room. Kasumi rose and shook the dress off, before following her father. Nabiki remained alone with her thoughts.
‘I can’t believe it! How could you be so stupid, father? ’ Nabiki breathed deeply trying to recover the calm. ‘Calm down! He couldn’t know what was going to happen. Now the important thing is receive them and explain the situation to them. I suppose that they will understand it, if no… ’
Kasumi’s shout of surprise was listened by the entire house. Nabiki stood up with a jump, and left running at the top speed that their feet allowed her. When she arrived at the hall she found out an unreal scene.
A panda, so high that it hadn’t been able to pass through the front door without duck, was in the middle of the hall. The panda carried a young girl on one of its shoulders and held her with its claws. His father had adopted a defensive position in front of the panda to defend Kasumi, who was behind him, leaned against the wall not to impede the movements of her father.
Nabiki stopped, not knowing what do.
The young girl noted the commotion that their entrance had caused, turned on the shoulder of the Panda and shouted at it:
“Stupid! Can’t you see that you are scaring them? Lower me!”
The panda, obediently, took delicately the girl with its claws and deposited her in front of Soun, who, surprised, only managed to ask:
“Who are you?”
The girl averted her eyes shyly before answering.
“I am Ranma Saotome.”
Soun lowered his guard when heard the answer.
“Are you the son of Genma Saotome?”
Ranma agreed while she played with her pigtail.
“But it can't be” Soun exclaimed surprised. “Genma told me that Ranma was a boy and you are...”
The girl looked out of the corner of her eye to the panda, and sighed.
“I know that it is difficult to believe, but I can demonstrate that I say the truth. I only need a little hot water.”
Nabiki snorted incredulously.
“Ok. Wait a moment.” She said while went to the kitchen to fulfill the strange request.
A few minutes later, Nabiki returned with a glass of hot water, which she gave to the stranger girl. Without saying anything, she threw the water over her head. The result was immediate and surprising. The small, red-haired, girl transformed in a robust black haired young man.
The Tendos, witnesses of an impossible transformation, remained agape, while the panda remained calm in spite of the change of sex of its companion.
“As you can see, I am really a boy.” Ranma announced unnecessarily.
“How have you done it?” Kasumi asked curious.
Ranma sighed before answering.
“Long history.”
“And... and your father?” Soun asked uncertain, since he feared the answer.
By all answer Ranma threw the rest of the content of the glass to the panda that immediately transformed into a middle-aged man with glasses. He was barefoot, dressed with a gi and a bandana that hid his baldness.
“Soun! old friend! I am glad to see you.” The man greeted him at the moment that the transformation was completed.
Soun, who had begun to doubt of his eyes, asked incredulous:
“Genma? But how is it possible?”
“It is an incredible history.” Genma explained. “During our trip to China we found the cursed springs of Jyusenkio, and discovered that the legend was right.”
“Because you didn't pay attention to the warnings of the guide.” Ranma disapproved him harshly.
“Oh! What an ungrateful son!” Genma complained pained. “After all that I have done by him these years.”
Ranma trembled unable to contain his rage.
“That you have done!” He shouted to his father. “Must I remind you of any of the things that you have done?”
Kasumi interposed herself between father and son before the situation got worse, and addressed Ranma.
“In any case you return to being a boy with hot water, right?”
The sweet tone of Kasumi cooled the rage of Ranma that only could agree.
“Then you needn’t to worry.” She continued without giving him an opportunity to talk back. “You practice martial arts, right? Come, I will show you our dojo.”
Before Ranma could react Kasumi grabbed his hand and took him out. Genma smiled, feeling he was the winner by abandonment, when the door of the garden closed after them. Nabiki realized his attitude which didn't improve her first impression of Genma.
Soun cleared his throat to attract the attention of Genma.
“Well, now that we’ve met again, I think that it would be a good moment to celebrate it and speak.” Soun emphasized the last word, but Genma didn't realize it.
“Good! It is a long time since we went out to drink together.” Genma exclaimed with joy.
Genma left his backpack on the ground without any doubt, and turned towards Soun.
“I am ready.” Genma told him. “When you want, we can go out.”
Soun smiled at seeing that his old friend had not changed in all these years. He went towards Genma, passed an arm by his shoulders, and they left towards the nearest bar.
Remaining alone, Nabiki took the backpack that Genma had left very carefreely in the middle of the hall, and, with a big effort, dragged it into the kitchen. There she left the bag leaning against the kitchen's wall. Taking advantage of the fact she was already there, Nabiki went to the refrigerator to get a soft drink. While she drank it, she observed a sheet hung on the door of the refrigerator. That she saw didn't improve her state of mind.
“Shit! Why do I have such as bad luck?” Nabiki protested, but she didn't receive an answer from the empty kitchen.
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(Posted Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:18)
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